Disclaimer: As always, I own nada me Loves. Gyar! (Too much PotC, sorry!)
A/N: Thanks for all the great reviews guys! I see those and it just makes me want to hop right into the next chapter! But for the sake of quality control, I promise not to rush things, so you're going to have to bear with me. Anyway, hope you're all enjoying the fic, regardless of whether or not you review - thanks for reading! PS: Our good buddy Cid Highwind will be making an appearance this chapter, so beware the naughty language!
Reno shook his head dejectedly and smacked himself in the forehead with his palm. Shutting the door, he sank down against it, cradling his head in his knees. He had really messed up this time, and there was no turning back. There was almost no way to fix this. Reeve had caught them red-handed. And not just simply kissing. It was far more than that - it was like they were trading little pieces of their soul with one another, swapping saliva and feeling. It wasn't just a kiss.
He must have fallen asleep in this position, because no sooner had he managed to let his eyes flutter open, did he notice that the door was slowly moving and scooting him across the wooden floor. He jumped up quickly drawing his shock rod from its holster, ready to strike at the intruder. A startled Rude quickly jumped into a fighting stance, and backed down just as quickly as his partner, once they recognized who the other was.
"What the Hell are you doing here?"
"I...uh...sleepin' I guess."
"You look like crap. What happened to you?"
"It's a long story."
"I've got time."
"Well...it started last night when I left the bar..."
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Reeve spent the entire morning looking after Yuffie. She hadn't stirred even slightly all morning. He was sure that she didn't have alcohol poisoning, but he was still worried that she was about to experience her first hangover. He wanted to make sure that the half-dead ninja wasn't going to drown in her own vomit. While he sat beside her bed, he brooded deeply, ashamed of his charge for allowing herself to be taken advantage of by that no-good redheaded Turk, angry at said Turk for trashing the girl and treating her like just another pretty face, and lastly afraid of the damage. Afraid of what all this could mean for both he and Yuffie if Godo ever found out.
The king was not oblivious to his daughter's sickness, nor was he unaware that she had stumbled in alongside Reeve at some unGodly hour. He did, however, not know that she had been out drinking herself drunk, nor that she had met up with Reno. Two things to be thankful for, no doubt. Reeve had made some quick cover story about Yuffie forgetting her Shuriken at the Pagoda and probably having gone back there to get it, only to wind up passing out outside and catching a small cold. He told Kisaragi taishou that she should be better very soon, and he bought it without hesitation.
While still muttering his fears into his hands, he noticed the young girl in front of him stirring. She cracked one groggy eye and peered into Reeve's face. He looked at her grimly, stern as he had ever been.
She felt groggy and nauseated, and could remember only little snatches of the night before. Honestly, she could hardly remember a thing. She remembered going into the woods outside of Junon to take out her frustrations over...something...and having done so...but the rest of the night was a blur.
"Reeve...what happened to me? I feel like crap..."
"You know damn well what you did young woman."
The little ninja bolted upright in bed and stared hard at the man in front of her.
"Reeve! You've never spoken to me like that before! What did I do? I don't remember okay!"
Reeve looked at her, slightly disbelieving and a bit puzzled, but with a slight sense of relief beginning to creep up into his throat.
"Don't you remember anything from last night at all?"
"I remember running off to Junon area forest, if that -- Is that what this is about? Me running off and not tellin' ya? Look, I'm real sorry, it's just that I was all frustrated again about what pops said and I wasn't thinkin' straight. Honest."
Reeve countenance changed to one of dawning comprehension as he truly began to believe that aside from what she had just recalled for him, she couldn't remember a thing.
"That's all you remember? You really don't remember anything else?"
"Not a thing Reeve. Why? Did I do something REALLY bad last night that I just ain't rememberin' too well?"
"No!" He quickly recovered this golden opportunity. "Not at all. I'm sorry for being so harsh with you Yuffie...it's...it's just that I was so frightened when you weren't here this morning that I didn't know what to do! I was so relieved just to find you knocked out in the forest that, I guess I lost my temper just now, thinking about how much worse it could have been." Reeve smiled wanly as he lied through his teeth. "Forgive me?"
"I guesso...but only of you'll give me one of those elixir things. Think it helps with nausea?"
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"You WHAT!"
"I kissed her, yo. I kissed her like I was dyin' and her mouth had the Elixir of Life in it or somethin' man."
"And Reeve caught you!"
"Yeah..."
"Holy shit, Reno, we could be totally f..."
"Don't. I know, okay? I know."
Rude looked at Reno like a man condemned to death. Which is what they might both be if Reeve wasn't a good buddy and managed to somehow keep the kid quiet about this.
"Why'd you do it? Huh, buddy? Why'd you do something stupid like that? I know you were bent on the girl, and I know I told you to go for it...but getting her drunk and letting yourself be open to getting noticed? That was just a bad move, my friend."
Reno's head was reeling.
"Yeah yeah yeah, whatever. I know I know I know I KNOW! You think I ain't been asking myself the same damn thing all Goddamned morning! Trying to figure out what the Hell is wrong with me? Doin' crazy stuff that could mean the end of my life as a Turk? Hell, maybe even life as I know it altogether, yo! If I wanted a lecture about my stupidity I woulda just talked to myself, okay? Now are you gunna try to help me or not?"
"She still thinks you're me, partner. It's not just your ass on the line. Mine is too. But...even if it weren't; you're like a brother to me. I'm going to help you through this, but you have to promise me you won't let anything stupid like this happen again, okay?"
"Deal." Reno said this in a voice barely above a whisper as he tried to choke back the tears that were beginning to form. The first woman he had ever thought to love, and it was never going to happen. For once he was not grateful for just simply being alive.
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The next week passed without much incident, Cait Sith was deployed to Nibelheim to learn about the area and sent back daily reports about what he had learned. Nibelheim was no longer a tiny spit of a town nestled against the bosom of Mount Nibel, but was now expanded to reach farther out towards the river than it used to. There were shops galore offering the newest technology in weapons, armor, materia, items, and just about anything else you could hope for. The restaurants boasted foods from all countries, all extremely good, and most extremely expensive. This was a regal country now, one built on decadence and wealth from the prosperous reign of the Valentine family. Thus far, their heir had not let their people down.
Cait Sith had not been able to gather very much about the ways of the Nibelheim wife because the whole country was a melting pot of people from all different areas in the world. There was no shortage of displaced Wutain's who undoubtedly migrated to different countries to try and live above the rural kind of life that Wutai offered. Many of them were successful, but it seemed the best off were placed in Nibelheim as weapon makers and teahouse owners.
Kisaragi taishou had made all the proper arrangements and kept continued correspondence with Vincent about his daughter's trip to their country. Things were looking to be fun, as the Nibelheim Fair seemed to be quite the extravaganza. Of course everyone from every country and every walk of life had at some point heard about this fair. Even when it was in it's baby stages, when people thought that it would flop. But over the years and as the country prospered, it became a big, glamorous affair with an entire weekend of top-notch vendors, parties, concerts, entertainers, plays and performances of all types and from all countries. Many attended the event, few were wealthy enough to enjoy the splendor of each and every offering the fair had. But all who went had good times and took back high opinions of the nation, which of course didn't hurt them in the least.
Friday morning rolled around, and Reeve and Yuffie were all packed and ready for the journey to Nibelheim. Although they could definitely have afforded to rent out a plane of their own, they decided to hitch a ride with many members of the world's aristocracy. Cloud and Tifa Strife, Zack and Aeris Adams and Nanaki, amongst others, would all be aboard the airship Shera, piloted by infamous Captain Cid Highwind, and his longtime companion (whom the aircraft was named after) Shera.
Yuffie was not expected to dress in a kimono for a change, and was instead arrayed in a light summer dress, white and light pink, emblazoned with delicately embroidered cherry blossoms throughout. She had her hair pinned in front with cute pink clips that were adorned with crystal cherry blossoms to match the theme. She looked altogether stunning in an innocent way, and did not balk over having to wear a dress whatsoever. She was strangely subdued about the whole thing, and even gasped a little as she took in her reflection that morning, surprised that even she could mimic a lady, and anxious to see if this would please "Vinnie" as she so affectionately called him.
By eleven the airship had landed and the travel items had been loaded on. Reeve had received a stern talk from Godo about keeping his daughter in check, making sure that she made the best impression possible, and most of all, getting Vincent Valentine to seriously consider all the reasons why a union between the two would be the most advantageous arrangement he could hope for, worldwide. Godo then proceeded to give Yuffie the closest thing he could to a pep talk, and in a move totally out of character for the old man, pecked his daughter affectionately on the forehead and wished her luck.
As they ambled out into the morning sun and boarded the airship, the Captain's voice came booming over the intercom.
"Welcome to my new airship; Shera. Don't fuckin' touch anything and have a great fuckin' flight!"
Reeve and Yuffie exchanged surprised glances as they stepped on to the ship.
A/N: Oooo, you know what that means kiddies,...don't think the Reno thing is quite over yet though...See you next chapter!